How many times have you gone to one of those white tablecloth lunches or dinners and you are starving? Even though you ate earlier that day, or you had the tea and bagels in the morning, everyone seems to be ravished by noon. It’s crazy. By the time they roll out the food it’s all crunchy and saucy and awkward. It’s also at that very moment when you’ve lost the battle of “to eat the onions or pick them off,” that your boss wants to be buddy -buddy and sit next to you. Obviously, the onions will have to wait until the next luncheon.
For me, situations like that always makes me nervous. It’s why I now pack some nuts in my bag and do a little snacking before I sit down. There is nothing that scares me more than biting into my sandwich and then having a small piece of lettuce shoot out of my mouth. Or drinking my coffee only to have it dribble out the corner of my mouth and onto my white shirt–dang it! I’m not one of those women who can stoically sit in front of a buffet of food and casually chit chat while not eating at all. These women were the discipline MVP’s before Ozempic hit the scene. No, by the time lunch is up, I’m typically hangry.
Granted, I don’t hate eating in front of people. I just hate being too hungry in front of people. It’s like all bets are off in the class department when Jose Andres or someone is catering. You will have to think of me as you will. It’s like paella is about to be incoming very fast. More than anything, I’m often too nervous to eat on some occasions. Let alone in spaces where I’m trying to make an impression. I can do soup, noodles, small bites and anything that requires chop sticks.
This is actually my first time thinking about this, and now I’m wondering if I need therapy. But yeah, messy foods and meetings are a no for me. I’d rather drink my beverage and look glamourous, unless it’s our second time lunching together, then all bets are off.
